In this triptych of inhumanity, Manchevski answers that, finally, man's humanity is as immutable as his violence. And that, finally, love is a given that keeps on giving.

We'll have to wait for Manchevski's next feature to know whether he's an artist or a shrewd entertainer. In the meantime, Before the Rain is one of the more worthy efforts of the season.

It shakes you up the way many other notable foreign-language film debuts once did -- films like"Breathless, The 400 Blows or Knife in the Water.

With incredibly well-crafted performances, a touching screenplay, and a larger thematic purpose; Before the Rain really does impress and absolutely deserves to be sought out.